Disengaging tool



April 30, 1963 J. M. PORTER 3,087,235

DISENGAGING TooL Filed Dec. 12. 1960 to Northrop of This invention relates to a disengaging tool and more particularly to a hand operated tool facilitating the removal of electrical lead ends from multiple connectors or the like.

In various electrical installations it is common practice to have a pluraltiy of electrical leads terminate in a common connector or terminal receiving block. Such 4a connector has many advantages for example, it provides a compact means whereby a plurality of electrical leads or connectors may be connected to and disconnected from another set of electrical leads or connectors, it maintains all leads in fixed relation to the receptacle, it insures good electrical connections, etc.

To effect the union or connection between two sets of leads or connectors by means of the aforementioned connector the terminal ends of electrical leads, that is lthe ends which are to be inserted and retained in the connector, are provided with spring clips or the like. These spring clips cooperate with the receptacle to effect and maintain ka lirm gripping relation -in the receptacle ,and insure a good electrical connection between the leads and a complementary set of leads. Quite frequently it becomes necessary to al-ter or remove one or more of the especially prepared connector ends from the connector, and this operation generally turns out to be quite troublesome and time consuming. To the best of applicants knowledge no special tool has ever been developed to perform this operation, accordingly the operation is usually effected using some crude instrument such as a wire, nail, bobbypin, etc.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a hand operated tool facilitating the individual removal of one or more of the terminal ends of electric leads from a multiple connector.

Another object is to provide -a hand operated tool which may be readily adapted to use with mo-st types of multiple connectors, which is simple in design yet rugged in construction and which is economical to manufacture.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it operates will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the disengaging tool as disclosed herein shown in its .pre-entry position in association with a multiple connector with which -itis to be used.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of tool shown in FIGURE l in its inserted position in an associated connector, the latter being shown in section to better illustrate the relationship between the tool and connector.

FIGURE 3 is a side View of the disengaging tool shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the disengaging tool as indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an end of the disengaging tool as indicated by the arrows S-S of FIGURE 3.

A preferred embodiment of the disengaging tool as disclosed herein is shown in FIGURES 3-5, Iand in these ligures the tool is identified generally by the numeral 11. Principal components of the tool 11 include a body portion 12 and a plunger portion 14.

aired States Patent Gfice 3,087,235 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 The body portion 12 is generally of cylindrical contiguration having an axially extending bore 16 formed therein, the bore :being open at one end of the body portion and terminating -short of the other end. External threads 17 are provided on the end of the portion 12 on which the bore 16 opens, formed on the other end of 4the portion 12 is an axially extending projection 18. The projection 18 is characterized in that it is rectangular in cross-section, its width greatly exceeding its thickness (these dimensions being compatible with dimensions of the connector with which it is to be used). The projection 18 serves to locate the tool 11 in :an associated connector in a manner which will be explained presently, therefore, the projection 18 is referred to hereafter as a location key.

A freeing mem-ber 19 is also provided on the tool 11. The member `19 is also characterized in that it is rectangular in cross-section, its width and thickness being quite small with respect to the key 18. The member 19 may be secured to the tool `11 in any suitable manner, however, its outer end 21 is substantially coextensive with the key 18 but has a spaced relation therewith. In the embodiment shown the member 19` is -secured to a charnfered surface formed on vthe body portion 12 as best seen in FIGURE 4 and is rigidly held in proper alignment in that it is bottomed in a groove 22 and secured therein by a screw 23. The member 19 should be constructed of a good grade of steel so that, although its cross-section is quit-e small, it will be sufficiently rigid to perform the function for which it is intended. Due to the shaped and strip-like configuration of the member 19, also due to the fact that it is constructed of .a good grade of steel, enables the length of its projecting end 21 to be altered within limits. This feature insures that the projection 18 will normally bottom `before the projecting end 2.1 at such times as the tool l11 is being positioned in an associated connector plug. Also the length of the projecting end 211 may be rendered longer than the projection 18 if it becomes necessary to do so. When adjusted to a desired length the member 19 is secured in this position by means of the screw 23.

The plunger 14 constitutes a cylindrical rod portion 214 having a `knob 26 formed on one end thereof and terminating at its other end in a cylindrical rod 27 off less diameter than the portion 24. Inasmuch as the terminal end 27 of the plunger is utilized to eject the clipped end of an electrical connector from an associated receptacle it is hereafter referred to as ejector member 27.

'[lhe plunger 14 is assembled fin the body portion 12 substantially :as shown in FIGURE 3. The ejector member 27 passes through an axial bore 28 and the plunger 14 is held in position in the body portion l12 by means of a hand nut 29. The plunger 14 is normally urged to its retracted position as shown in FIGURE 3 and is normally actuated to its extended position in which the ejector member is substantially coextensive with the key 18 and member 21.

The structural features of `the tool 11 having been descri-bed, a better understanding thereof will be forth-corning from the following description of its operation.

The tool 11 is utilized to individually remove any one of a pluraltiy of electrical leads 31 from a multiple connector or receptacle 32 the construction of which is well known. 'Ilhe end of the leads 31, that is the ends which enter the connector 32, are provided with clips 33- which function to secure the leads 31 in the connector 32 in a manner which is also Well known.

To remove a lead 31 from the connector 32 the locating key 18 -is inserted and bottomed inthe central channel 34 of the connector 32 at a location directly opposite the lead '31 which .is to be removed. This operation causes the freeing member end 21 to wedge itself between the clip 33 and the outside Wall of the connector 32 thus freeing the barb 36 of the clip from the ledge 37 formed in the wall of the connector 32. During this operation it will be seen that the key 18 has also functioned to depress the inboard end of the clip 33 and thus free its terminal end from the central ledge 38.

It will now be seen by referring to FIGURE 2 that -the `)barb 36 and inboard end of the clip 33 are freed from their retaining means and the clip is now free lto be ejected from the connector 32. This is accomplished by urging the plunger 14 to its extended position. Actuating the plunger to its extended position brings the ejector member 27 into contact with the clip 33 and forces it and the lattached lead 'om the connector 32.

While in order to comply with the statut-e, the invention llas been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is tol be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific yfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein ydisclosed comprise a preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or 'modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of lthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool facilitating the removal of clipped ends of electrical leads from a multiple connector plug comprising: a body portion having a plunger member operationally mounted therein; said body portion having a pair of rigidly mounted spaced projections formed on one end thereof; said projections being dimensioned and shaped to fit into the open end of an individual connector channel carrying :a spring clip to be removed, with said projections straddling the clip end to force the clip away from the connector walls; said plunger in its assembled position in said body portion lhaving one end thereof positioned between and immediately adjacent to said pair of projections; and said plunger member being movable with respect to said 'body portion between a retracted position in which the one end of said plunger member is retracted into said body portion out of contact with the clip and an extended position coextensive with said pair of spaced projections wherein said plunger enters the connector and pushes the clip from its installed position, :and knob means mounted on the other end of said plunger member for so moving manually said plunger member to its said extended position.

2. A `tool facilitating the removal of clipped ends of electrical leads from a multiple connector plug as set forth in claim ll: characterized in that said Ipair of spaced projections are rectangular in cro-ss-section the width of which greatly exceeds their thickness, one of said projections Ibeing shaped as an alignment key for said tool in the connector Worked on, and 4the other said projection having a thickness to be forced between the clip and its seat in the connector.

3. A 4hand tool `facilitating the removal of clipped ends of electrical leads from a multiple connector plug comprising: an elongated body port-ion having a plunger mem- .iber operationally mounted therein; said tbody portion lhaving a pair of rigidly mounted spaced projections formed on one end thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction of said body portion; said projections being dimensioned and shaped to t into the open end of an individual connector channel carrying a spring clip to be removed, with said projections straddling the clip end to force 'the clip away from the connector walls; said plunger in its assembled relation in said body portion having one end thereof positioned between and immediately adjacent to said pair of spaced projections; spring means mounted in said body portion normally urging said plunger member to a retracted position in which the one end of said plunger memfber lis retracted into said body portion out of contact with the clip; and knob means mounted -on the other end of said plunger member whereby fthe latter may be manu-ally movable to 'an extended position in which the one end of plunger member is substantially coextensive `with said pair of spaced projections tand wherein said plunger enters the connector and pushes the clip from its installed position.

4. A tool facilitating the removal of clipped ends of electrical leads from a multiple connector plug as set forth in claim 3: characterized in that said pair of spaced projections are rectangular in cross-section the width of wihio'h greatly exceeds their thickness; one of said projections being shaped as an yaligrnnent key for said tool in the connector worked on, and the other said projection having a minimum thickness to be Aforced Ibetween the clip and its seat in the connector; and the outer end of said one projection being blunt to seat against an internal abutment in the connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A TOOL FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF CLIPPED ENDS OF ELECTRICAL LEADS FROM A MULTIPLE CONNECTOR PLUG COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION HAVING A PLUNGER MEMBER OPERATIONALLY MOUNTED THEREIN; SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF RIGIDLY MOUNTED SPACED PROJECTIONS FORMED ON ONE END THEREOF; SAID PROJECTIONS BEING DIMENSIONED AND SHAPED TO FIT INTO THE OPEN END OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONNECTOR CHANNEL CARRYING A SPRING CLIP TO BE REMOVED, WITH SAID PROJECTIONS STRADDLING THE CLIP END TO FORCE THE CLIP AWAY FROM THE CONNECTOR WALLS; SAID PLUNGER IN ITS ASSEMBLED POSITION IN SAID BODY PORTION HAVING ONE END THEREOF POSITIONED BETWEEN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO SAID PAIR OF PROJECTIONS; 